Angle bit-brace.



No. 838,677. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906. J. H. AGKERMANN. ANGLE BIT BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1904.

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PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

J. H. ACKERMANN. ANGLE BIT BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1904.

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' ANGLE BIT-I-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed September 6,1904. Serial No. 223,340.

T0 at 1072 0121, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. AOKERMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Angle Bit-Braces, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to angle bit-braces, and has for its object to provide a bit brace or stock wherein the bit may be so adjusted relatively to the axis of rotation of the U- crank by which it is driven as to be given any position from one in alinement with said axis to one at right angles thereto and may be firmly held and locked in the position to which it has been adjusted.

To these and other ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure'l is a side elevation of a structure embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of a portion of the same with one of the side plates of the housing removed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the same viewed at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the line :0 9c of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a detail plan section taken on the line y y of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the intermediate shaft connecting the crankshaft and chuck-shaft. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the bearing-sleeve for the crank-shaft and its associated parts, and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the clamping member cooperating with that carried by the bearingsleeve shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention in one form, 1 indicates the crank-shaft, having the usual U-crank 2, with hand-grasp 3 and pressure-knob 4.

The chuck, which may be of any suitable construction, is indicated at 5 and the chuckshaft at 6. Between the crank-shaft and chuck-shaft is located a housing'7, provided at one end with an aperture 8, in which is secured a bearing-sleeve 9 for the chuckshaft 6, said bearing-sleeve being removably held in place by a set-screw 10 or in any other suitable manner. The chuck-shaft is connected to the crank-shaft by any suitable connection which will permit the desired changes in angular relations of the two shafts and at the same time transmit rotary motion from the latter to the former. The construction which I prefer for this purpose is one which I have devised and which is shown in the accompanying drawings. It comprises an intermediate shaft 11, having at one end a ball or sphere 12, which is diametrically slotted, as indicated at 13, said slot passing through said ball almost, but not quite, to its point of union with the shaft 1 1.

The chuck-shaft 6has formed on or secured to that end thereof which lies within the housing 7 a cylindrical socket 14, having a transverse pin 15, which fits in and engages with the slot 13, the ball fitting within saidsocket and being free to play longitudinally thereof. At its other end the intermediate shaft 11 is provided with a similar ball or sphere 16 having a similar slot 17, arranged in a plane at right angles to the plane of the slot 13. The crank-shaft 1 is provided with an extension 18, the end of which lies within the housing 7 and is there provided with a cylindrical socket 19 to receive the ball 16, said socket havinga transverse pin 20, which engages the slot 17. Byreason of this construction rotary motion will be transmitted from the crank-shaft to the chuckshaft whatever the angular relations of the two shafts may be.

In order to lock the two shafts in any position to which they may be adjusted, the

housing 7 is provided with a curved wall 21,

having formed therein a slot 22, said wall having bearing-surfaces on both its inner and outer faces. Through this slot the crankshaft extension 18 extends, said shaft extension being supported inposition by means of a bearing-sleeve 23. .(Shownin detail in Fig. 7.) This sleeve is provided with an aperture 24, extending through it to receive and form a bearing for the crank-shaft extension 18. That portion 25 of said sleeve which lies within the slot 22 is square in cross-section or otherwise so formed as to have flat sides, which bear against the side walls of the slot 22 to guide the sleeve and prevent rotation thereof. Within the housing 7 said sleeve is provided with lateral projections 26, which bear upon the bearing-surfaces 0n the inner face of the wall 21 of the housing, and said projections are preferably rounded on the faces thereof which-contact with said wall, as

indicated at 27, so as to bear against the same along one line only. The square portion of said sleeve extends outward beyond the outer face of the wall 21 and there receives a clamping-plate 28, having a square aperture 29 to fit said projection and having its under face provided with a rounded bearing-rib 30 on each side of the aperture 29, so as to bear upon the bearing-surfaces of the outer face of the wall 21 along a single line of contact. The outer portion of the sleeve 23 is threaded externally, as indicated at 31, to receive a thumb-nut 32, which is adapted to bear upon the clamping-plate 28 and force the same against the wall 21 of the housing, so as to grip said wall firmly between said clamping-plate and the clamping projections 26 of the sleeve 28. By reason of this con.- struction the parts may be so moved that the crank-shaft and chuck-shaft may be in alinement, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or at right angles to each other, or in any intermediate position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The clamping arrangement for the bearingsleeve of the crank-shaft is such as to fix it firmly in a definite position relatively to the wall 21 of the housing, at the same time permitting free movement of the parts during their adjustment.

It will be noted that the two shafts are so connected by the intermediate shaft that variations in the distance separating their ends may occur without disconnecting them so as to render their connection inoperative. This arises from the fact that said shafts are not positively attached to the intermediate shaft, but have sliding connections therewith. Owing to this construction I am enabled to so vary the radii of curvature of the wall 22 as to obtain a range of adjustment through ninety degrees without unduly increasing the size of the housing.

The housing is preferably provided with a fiat wall 33 parallel with the axis of the chuck-shaft, so as to form a bearing and support when the bit is used in certain positions. The housing is preferably constructed in the form of a frame-like body having a hollow interior closed at the sides by plates 34, removably held in position by screws 35, so that access may be readily had to the entire interior of said housing to permit inspection, removal, and replacement of the inclosed parts.

It will be observed that the external diameter of the socket 14 is not greater than that of the bearing-sleeve 9, so that by loosening the set-screw 10 the chuck-shaft and its socket may be removed from the housing through the opening 8. The crank-shaft extension 18 is preferably made separable from the crank-shaft, being connected thereto by a pin 36, the removal of which permits the removal of the crank-shaft extenslon and its socket through the opening 8.

It will of course be understood that the capacity for adjustment of the angular relations of the chuck-shaft and crank-shaft gives a much wider range of utility for the tool as a whole, adapting it for use in many situations where the ordinary bit-stock is useless.

I am aware that it has been proposed to so construct a bit-stock as to permit the angular relations of these parts to be varied; but so far as I am aware no provision has ever been made for holding these parts fixed in the positions to which they have been adjusted or for permitting them to be adjusted throughout a range of ninety degrees. My construction also possesses obvious advantages over structures heretofore proposed in which a plurality of different parts are substituted for each other to be connected to the crank-shaft according to the desired working angle, since my improved bit-stock is complete in itself and requires no auxiliary parts.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described, and shown in the ac companying drawings, as it is obvious that these details may be modified without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An angle bit brace comprising a rigid housing, a curved wall provided with a slot, a crank-shaft, a bearing-sleeve for the crankshaft extending through and adjustable in said slot to various angles, a chuck-shaft, a fixed bearing therefor in said rigid housing, and a flexible rotary connection interconnecting said shafts and located Within said rigid housing, substantially as described.

2. An angle bit-brace comprising a rigid housing having a curved wall provided with a slot, a crank-shaft, a bearing-sleeve for the crankshaft extending through and movable along said slot to various angles, means for clamping said sleeve in different positions in the slot, a chuck-shaft, a fixed bearing-sleeve therefor in said rigid housing, and a flexible rotary connection between said shafts and located Within said housing, substantially as described.

3. In an angle bit-brace, a rigid housing having a curved wall provided with a slot, a crank-shaft, a bearing-sleeve therefor extending through and adjustable along said slot, a chuck-shaft, a fixed bearing therefor mounted in said rigid housing, and an intermediate shaft contained within the rigid housing, the ends whereof are connected with the ends of the crank-shaft and chuckshaft by universal joints, substantially as described.

4. In an angle bit-brace of the character described, a housing having a curved wall provided with a slot, a crank-shaft, and a bearing-sleeve for the crank-shaft extending through and fitting the slot, having clamping projections to engage the inner face of said Wall, and athreaded portion outside of the housing, a clamping-plate mounted on said sleeve to engage the outer face of the Wall, and a clamping-nut mounted on the threaded portion of the sleeve and bearing on the clamping-plate, substantially as described.

5. In an angle bit-brace of the character described, a housing having a curved Wall provided With a slot, a crankshaft, and a bearing-sleeve for the crank-shaft extending through and fitting the slot, having clamping projections to engage the inner face of said wall, and a threaded portion outside of the housing, a clamping-plate mounted on said sleeve to engage the outer face of the Wall, and a clamping-nut mounted on the threaded portion of the sleeve and bearing on the clamping-plate, the faces of said clamping projections and clamping-plate Which 911';

gage the Wall being rounded to form edge bearings, substantially as described.

6. In an angle bit-brace of the character described, a housing having a curved Wall provided With a slot, a crank-shaft, and a bearing-sleeve for said crank-shaft extending through the slot, said sleeve being flat at its sides Where it passes through the slot and being provided With an outer threaded portion, a clamping-plate mounted on said sleeve to engage the outer face of the Wall and having an aperture fitting the flattened portion of the sleeve to prevent rotation of said plate, and a clamping-nut mounted on the threaded portion of the sleeve and bearing on the clamping-plate, substantially as described.

7. In an angle bit-brace of the character described, a housing having a slotted Wall ofa curvature of decreasing radius, a crank-shaft having a bearing-sleeve adjustable along said slotted Wall, a chuck-shaft having a fixed bearing in said housing, and an intermediate shaft having a jointed and sliding rotative driving engagement With said crank-shaft and chuck-shaft, substantially as described.

8. In an angle bit-brace of the character described, a housing having a slotted Wall of a curvature of decreasing radius, a crank-shaft having a bearing-sleeve adjustable alongsaid Wall, a chuck-shaft mounted in a fixed bear- 2 ing in said housing, and an intermediate shaft provided With terminal slotted balls, said crank-shaft and chuck-shaft being provided with terminal sockets to receive said balls and transverse pins to, engage the slots thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN H. AQKERMANN.

Witnesses:

AL. H. KUNKLE, i IRVINE MILLER. 

